HUMAN

Name: BRUCE LEE
Age: OLDER THAN 30
Residence: DENALI PARK, ALASKA.
Occupation: WILDLIFE GUIDE IN DENALI PARK
Years involved with Iditarod: THIS MIGHT BE MY 21ST YEAR ON THE TRAIL.
Iditarod Role: I HELP PRODUCE AND FIELD COORDINATOR AND ANALYST FOR THE INSIDER WEBSITE; AND HELP GATHER INTERVIEWS WITH THE MUSHERS FOR THE DOCUMENTARY, WHICH IDITAROD PRODUCES EVERY YEAR TO HELP SUPPORT THE RACE.
Current Location: NOME, ALASKA
Date of Photo: MARCH 13, 2019
Temperature: 30F / OUTDOORS

What is your Why?.. Why are you here today and involved in Iditarod?:

I LOVE THE LIFESTYLE. I HAD DOGS AND LIVED A SUBSISTENCE LIFESTYLE UP ON THE KOBUK RIVER VALLEY FOR 5 YEARS BEFORE I EVER THOUGHT ABOUT RACING. AND THEN I GOT SUCKED INTO THE VORTEX OF IDITAROD, RUNNING RACES AND THE YUKON QUEST AS WELL. AND THE THING THAT I LIKE ABOUT IT MOST IS THE PEOPLE AND THE WHOLE LIFESTYLE. THE RACE IS KIND OF A TWO-WEEK “EXCLAMATION MARK” ABOUT THE WHOLE LIFESTYLE. THAT’S WHEN EVERYBODY COMES TOGETHER FROM ALL THESE REMOTE AREAS. ALL THE HARD WORK THEY’VE DONE; EVERYBODY FROM THE TRAIL BREAKERS TO ALL THE SUPPORT STAFF; EVERYBODY THAT I SEE. IT’S JUST REALLY AN ALASKAN CELEBRATION OF OUR LIFESTYLE, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.

Tell me about your most rewarding experience on Iditarod?:

YOU KNOW, I’VE SEEN SO MANY THINGS RACING AS FAR AS BEAUTIFUL SUNSETS AND NORTHERN LIGHTS AND TIMES PEOPLE ARE GATHERED AROUND IN CHECKPOINTS TALKING, NO MATTER WHAT THEIR ROLE IS. BUT I THINK FOR ME, WHEN I THINK OF THE IDITAROD, IT’S 3 OR 4 O’CLOCK IN THE MORNING; IT’S HEADLAMPS DOWN, WORKING; LOOKING AT DOGS AS THE MUSHERS ARE PUTTING ON FOOT OINTMENT OR PUTTING ON BOOTIES AND THE STEAM FROM COOKERS RISING AND THE DOGS CURLED UP ON THE STRAW. IT’S REALLY KIND OF A SPECIAL SCENE. AND I KNOW JOHN VAN ZYLE HAS CAPTURED THAT QUITE A FEW TIMES. AND I THINK IT’S BECAUSE IT’S KIND OF STRIKING TO ALL OF US TO WALK AROUND OUTSIDE IN SOME CHECKPOINT AND SEE THESE LITTLE BOBBING LIGHTS AND THE MUSHERS WORKING WITH THEIR DOGS AND COOKING FOR THEIR DOGS. AND THAT TO ME IS HOW I REALLY THINK OF IDITAROD; AS A REALLY SPECIAL MOMENT. THE WHOLE WORLD IS ASLEEP AND WE’RE OUT HAVING A GREAT EXPERIENCE AT 3 O’CLOCK IN THE MORNING.

What do you know for sure?:

THAT NOTHING IS FOR SURE. I THINK IDITAROD FOR THOSE OF US THAT HAVE RACED, IT TEACHES YOU TO BE HUMBLE. IT TEACHES YOU TO LIVE IN THE MOMENT, AND MOST OF ALL, I THINK, TO APPRECIATE THE SMALL THINGS IN LIFE THAT ARE THE BIG THINGS IN LIFE.